๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฉ๐ : ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ
[ Unofficial / An opinion ]
There had been a lot of buzz recently about the upcoming Honda City. Most of the news you heard is about the arrival of 7th generation City as replacement by Honda Atlas. Nothing is officially known and there are still rumours for the newer 7th generation Honda City as well and I hope ans wish Pakistani customer do welcome the 7th.
Back in late May 2020, we reported that Honda Atlas is working on the 6th generation of Honda City to replace the decade old current Honda City by Atlas and NOT bringing the newer 7th generation. Honda Atlas did explore the option of the newer 7th generation but as of writing of this post , the actual groundwork is suspended.
Now, as per some available information [ unofficial & unconfirmed ], Honda Atlas might be bringing a replacement Honda City BUT possibly not a 7th and instead same 6th /GM6 we discussed back on 21st May 2020. Post attached for details. https://www.facebook.com/groups/PakWheelsOfficial/permalink/3067021906746445/
๐๐ฌ๐ญ: Honda Atlas follow Honda Indonesia for their product development and the 7th /GN1 Honda City is NOT yet available in Indonesia. Honda Indonesia is still selling the older GM6 generation. The GN1 is for sale only in limited markets at this time, Thailand, Malaysia, India and some Middle Eastern countries.
๐๐ง๐: Yes GM6 which most probably Honda Atlas is bringing might be a discontinued model BUT it is still in production and will remain in production in India along side the new 7th generation/ GN1. In other words, in India, Honda is and will keep on offering both the 6th [ Grace shape] as well as the new 7th generation. ( In India's domestic market , they call the GM6/ Grace shape a 4th generation while the new one is a 5th generation as an additional info).
๐๐ซ๐: Keep in mind that City is major product from Honda in India and the most important model too. Honda Atlas Pakistan can easily say " We/Atlas are bringing a City's generation into Pakistan which is also available for sale and production in one of the largest market in the region ( India ) , So our /Atlas GM6 release is still relevant and not a discontinued model".
๐๐ญ๐ก: Honda Atlas, will load the upcoming City in Pakistan with features and equipment and will bring it in to cater the Yaris sedan from Indus. Airbags, Stability control , digital climate control and possibly a sunroof like attractions.
๐๐ญ๐ก: Yaris for sure must have dented some sales of City. Yaris still being only two month into production so, we need to wait and see the statistical performance. If Honda Atlas even bring the previous GM6 model, Atlas thinks, they can still make a recovery and bring customers to their dealerships. Keep in mind most of Yaris buyers are those who were in market for basic XLI/GLI and as those models are discontinued, they shifted to Yaris sedan. So, this might also be contributing to Yaris sales figures. On the other hand, City sales might remain unaffected and Honda selling on average same number of units which they were selling already before arrival of Yaris
๐๐ญ๐ก: Unfortunately most of the public wants "NEW SHAPE" and for them from current Honda City to GM6 will suffice. People happily buy current City in Pakistan even being older generation with multiple fake-lifts with chrome chamak-patti and accelerated perfection in shape of shark-fun-teena and they will still buy the 6th / GM6 , no matter if it is already dead everywhere else. As per market trend, City ( even being more than 10 year old ) is still selling as brand new.
๐๐ญ๐ก: Grace shape / GM6 City is already known to public in Pakistan and was bought by many people as JDM / import as Hybrid . It still has a good following in Pakistani market. So, Atlas will cash on that existing introduction.
๐๐ญ๐ก: Honda Atlas has contracted its suppliers for development and supply of parts for the GM6. Honda Atlas did think about the 7th generation/ GN1 BUT plans for that have been shelved at this time.
๐๐ญ๐ก: The GN1/7th generation City is on an entire new platform and do need major investment and upgrades to assembly plant while GM6/ 6th generation is not very different from the City currently we have as far as platform , engine and some other components . It's easier , quicker and cheaper to develop the GM6. The new platform is not a Plug-&-Play system into existing assembly line. It does need assembly line infrastructure modification which is not cheap. This is also the reason we dont have a 12th generation Corolla yet, which is on a newer TNGA platform and the existing assembly line at Indus just cant start making 12th gen Corolla until the production line is upgraded to the newer platform. Well, it depends on the Atlas or for that matter Indus if they are ready to make these changes and investments on ground.
๐๐๐ญ๐ก: With sales already low, making investment towards a newer generation can be a gamble especially keeping in mind the ever growing competition. Lucky Motors is in process of bringing a compact crossover in 3 to 4 Million range which will further populate the price bracket. In nutshell, Atlas want to replace the City with a City BUT pricing it around 3 Million+/- and that might not be possible with the 7th generation.
Additionally, Honda Atlas would never want their City model near the 1.6L Corolla or the upcoming 1.6L Elantra as far as price point and it seems like it's NOT possible with the newer GN1/ 7th generation City keeping in mind the inflation. A buyer in market would rather take a Corolla instead of City. This is the same reason some people are preferring a Corolla over Yaris sedan.
๐๐๐ญ๐ก: Icing on the cake; Honda Atlas as per some reports already produced a GM6 generation Prototype as demo unit for its suppliers. Its hiding somewhere at Atlas facility.
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐ฎ:
This is my opinion on the subject and I shared it on basis of currently available information which directs towards the arrival of a GM6 ( Grace shape). I hope, I am totally wrong on this topic and Honda Atlas brings the new GN1/ 7th generation and make all of us happy. I really pray and wish it happens like this.
As of timeline , Honda Atlas is planning to bring the replacement Honda City in 6 to 8 months from now. Anyways, once I have more info on this matter, I will share with this great community of Pakwheels.
I leave it to readers to make an opinion and share it in comments.
[ f-w @PakWheels.com ]
PW Blog > https://www.pakwheels.com/blog/the-upcoming-honda-city-in-pakistan-preliminary-update/
Pakwheels Discussion Thread > https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/t/upcoming-pkdm-honda-city-gen-6th-or-7th-discussion-thread/1445346
